[ehochstein]

http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprogr...hes-resolution

Blog Date:
Wednesday, March 4, 2015 - 13:03
As I noted in an earlier blog, we have been gathering data from participants regarding the events that took place during the final matches at the Dallas Regional. Based on the information I have, I believe the teams were not treated in a way that meets FRC standards. At a minimum, it appears two teams were not given the opportunity to make the ‘quick remedy’ promised under G7 to get them in a compliant starting position before the final match. Beyond the rules themselves, I believe the teams were not kept well informed of the situation, with at least one team not knowing they had been disabled until the match started and their robot did not move. Also, I got the sense the teams were not being treated as respectfully as they deserved, at least on occasion. While some may characterize this situation as a problem with the decisions of a few volunteers, I do not. Ultimately, the responsibility for ensuring all teams have a positive experience at FRC events falls to me, with, of course, the support of the rest of the FIRST staff.

Our volunteers have very difficult jobs, and my working assumption is that every volunteer has the best interests of the teams at heart. Every day I am thankful for their commitment and dedication to FIRST. FIRST would not exist or be what it is without them. However, volunteers do not train themselves, and FIRST has the responsibility to train and regularly reinforce the need to make the team experience the priority, balanced, of course, with proper consideration for the rules to ensure fairness. We also need to acknowledge that our many different volunteer roles require different skill sets, and not every volunteer is suited for every role. We need to make sure we have a good fit between our volunteers and the roles we need filled.

Immediately, we are contacting our key volunteers to reinforce the idea that the team experience should take priority at events. Longer term, working with the FIRST Volunteer Resources Department, we will be reviewing our key volunteer training process for 2016 to ensure it properly emphasizes the team experience. Other specific actions may also be taken.

The teams involved in the final match at Dallas were 624, 118, 2613, 987, 148, and 3802. Five of these six teams have already earned a slot at the FIRST Championship, with the lone exception being 3802. As a way to attempt to partially make up for the frustrations of the final match, I am offering 3802 a Wild Card slot at Championship. This should not be interpreted to mean that I believe that, had all robots been enabled, the 987/148/3802 Alliance would have won that final match. I would not attempt to predict that. The 624/118/2613 Alliance are the Winners of the Dallas Regional, and this offer is not intended to minimize that very significant accomplishment.

I apologize to the teams involved in the finals, the rest of the attendees in Dallas, and the FIRST community for this. We are working to make it right, and minimize the chance of it happening again.

Frank